Flipkart’s quick commerce arm, Flipkart Minutes, recorded a sharp surge in demand for festive essentials during the Makar Sankranti period, underlining how last-minute shopping is increasingly shifting online even for traditional occasions.

Between January 12 and 14, 2026, the platform saw a significant jump in orders for staples and festival-specific products such as rice, sugar, pulses, spices, havan items and kites. Rice emerged as the single most-ordered item during the period, while pooja essentials like camphor and agarbatti saw demand grow by over 35%, indicating heightened focus on timely festival preparations.

Data from the platform shows that the most frequently ordered combination during the festival window was rice, ghee and jaggery — a staple trio for Sankranti celebrations across several regions.

Bengaluru led festive demand on Flipkart Minutes, with order volumes peaking during the morning hours around 9 am and again in the evening between 7 pm and 8 pm. Sweets, pooja essentials and gifting items accounted for a large share of festive orders, reflecting the role of quick commerce in meeting both ritualistic and convenience-driven needs.

Gen Z, millennials drive Sankranti surge on Flipkart Minutes

Younger consumers drove much of this activity. Gen Z and millennials in the 25–34 age bracket emerged as the most active shoppers, using the platform to source a mix of traditional essentials and seasonal favourites. Items such as ghee, jaggery, moong dal, sesame seeds, laddus, chikki, flowers and kites featured prominently in their carts.

The trend points to a broader shift in festive consumption patterns, where shoppers are becoming more intentional and need-driven, relying on rapid delivery services for culturally significant occasions. 

According to a Flipkart spokesperson, the spike in Sankranti-related purchases reflects how consumers are increasingly turning to quick commerce not just for everyday staples but also for festival-specific requirements, reinforcing the platform’s role during time-sensitive moments.

For Flipkart Minutes, the Sankranti surge highlights the growing relevance of quick commerce in India’s festive economy — an area traditionally dominated by offline neighbourhood stores but now seeing rising competition from app-based, hyperlocal delivery models.